Aquatic window attraction



Oct. 16, 1934. H. J. BARKl-:R

AQUATIC WINDOW ATTRACTION Filed Jan. 14, 1952 Patented Get. 16, 1934 13 Claims.

The present invention has to do with a curiosity arousing apparatus and more particularly to a device in which a gure or body is made to move alternately upwardly and downwardly in the liquid contents of a sealed container or reservoir.

In certain other devices placed in the hands of the public heretofore, a ligure contained within a reservoir or other transparent receptacle of water has been made to change its vertical position in the water by chemical action generating a gas within the gure.

Another method heretofore employed to actuate in a like manner a figure within a similar container of water has been to alternately increase and decrease the air pressure within said container by means of an external air pump or any other compressor. The change in pressure will cause a float of proper construction and material to rise and fall.

The present invention is an improvement over conventional and analogous devices in that no independent source of energy as a chemical force or external mechanical force is necessary.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a novelty in which a gure submerged in a body of water is made to periodically rise and sink withinv such water without the use of chemicals or pumps, or any other sources of energy not wholly within the structure of the container, and in which a means for changing the water level within the container supplies the energy for operation of the figure.

Other objects of the invention will be made J5 apparent from the further description of the invention. The object of the invention is attained by means of the unique arrangement of the elements of the apparatus hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying L10 drawing wherein: v

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a device ernbodying the invention as it would appear on display;

Figure 2 is a vertical section of the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a transverse section on the line 3-3 of Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional detail of an air tube having a oat valve to shut out air when the floating figure is away, from the bottorn of the device.

Like reference characters are used to designate similar parts in the drawing and in the description of the invention hereinafter given.

A transparent sealed container is required for the present novelty. In the drawing, the container 10 is a Mason 'fruit jar. Any other transparent sealed container may be substituted therefor.

The reservoir 10 has a threaded mouth 11. n

Over the mouth 11, a screw cap 12 may be ernployed. Such cap 12, fortified with a gasket between its flange and the shoulder of the jar l0 generally provides an air and water tight con- `tainer.

Through the cap 12 is a iilling opening 13 which may be omitted when economy of production is desired. For the opening 13, a plug 14 is provided. The only use for the filling vent 13 is to facilitate charging the reservoir 10.

A second aperture 15 in the cap 12 receives the device predicating the subject matter of the present invention.

1t is equally manifest that another reservoir could be used, such reservoir to have a top openying so that it would not be necessary to reverse the reservoir after it is lled, as is necessary with reservoir 10.

For convenience in manufacture, the entire unit secured in aperture 15 may be formed in a manner whereby it may be readily assembled and attached. One way of forming the unit is to provide an external base 16 which has a flange portion 19. The base 16 may have as a part thereof a cup 17, the outer wall of said cup projecting through the aperture 15 in the interior of the reservoir 10.

Intermediate the flange 19 and the material of the cap 12 exteriorly thereof is a .ga-siret 20. Joinder of the unit to the cap 12 is .had by ap plying a lock nut 18 interiorly cf the cap, said lock nut 18 being threaded onto the cup 17 or otherwise fastened thereto. By tightening the nut 18 and thus compressing the gasket 20, a water tight connection is had between the unit and cap 12.

Exteriorly of the device is a tube 21 the interior end of which may be in the cup 17. 1n the tube 21 there may be disposed a wick 27 or other material adapted to prevent any air entering tube 21 or the reservoir 10 therethrough. The wick 27 in the present device acts as a stabilizer. The operation of the device with a wick is decidedly better and more regular than without the wick.

It assists the even flow of water outwardly by capillary attraction and prevents upward flow of air.

The tube 21 may be provided with a valve 21a whereby the flow of water through the tube 21 from reservoir 10 because of the forces of gravity and capillary attraction may be regulated. When desired, the ow of water may be entirely shut off.

A second tube 22 depends from the base 16. Tube 22 may be parallel to tube 21. At its lower end, said tube may be plugged, the plug 22a in the form of a threaded replaceable member being shown. The upper end of tube 22 may terminate in or adjacent to cup 17.

In close proximity to the base 16, there is an arm 23 extending from the tube 22. At the end of the arm 23 or at any suitable place therein there is provided an air valve 23a. It is through this part of the device that air at atmosphere pressure is admitted to the reservoir 10 in regulated volume. The admission of air is at a higher level than the discharge of water from the device.

The valves 21a. and 23a are tapered screw valves. When they are screwed completely intoY their respective seats, the device will be precluded Yfrom operating. When such screw valves are moved outwardly from their seats, the device will operate. By adjusting the screw valves 21a and 23a to various positions, the amount of air admitted to the reservoir is controlled. Thus, these valves may be eiectively adjusted to regulate the operation of the device to any desired speed or to stop it.

The upper extremity of tube 22, it will be noted from Figure 2, terminates obliquely. A very small opening 24 oblong in conguration or in the form of a slit is arranged in the oblique section. The oblique section and opening which is termed an air nozzle may be in the form of a detachable tip. The edge of said tip is on an angle of say, forty-five degrees.

The reason for constructing such opening on a bias is to insure that air admitted in the reservoir 10 through the tube 22 will be admitted in small sized bubbles. If the tube 22 were not out on an angle and in the form of a small oblong hole, air would accumulate in large bubbles. Such bubbles would be quite noticeable when released from the end of the tube 22 and not allow close regulation.

In the illustrated form of tube 22, there is no tendency on the part of air to collect in rlarge sized bubbles. but on the contrary, minute air bubbles are formed on the end of tube 22 and are released as rap-idly as formed. Such obliquity causes the air bubbles to be thrown into a path not truly vertical and thus avoid the float except when the float is in close proximity thereto or completely covering the nozzle.

The arm 23, it will be also noted, is at an angle from the horizontal. The outer end is raised. This arrangement is apparently necessary to insure proper functioning of the valve. Such arrangement prevents the arm 23 from becoming moistened by water attracted to it by capillary attraction. If moisture should accumulate in tube 22, it may be removed by the detachment of the threaded plug 22o at the end thereof.

The members 21, 22, and 23 disposed upon th base 16 provide for the removal of water from the reservoir 10 and the admission of air to said reservoir after the removal of water therefrom. Either by regulating the air valve 23a or by controlling the withdrawal of water from the reservoir by the tube 21, or by regulating both tubes, the rapidity with which air is admitted to the reservoir and water removed therefrom is determined. These are primary factors in determining the operation of -the gure, wheel, toy, de-

vice or other item which is adapted to be ar"- fected by the energy thus created within the reservoir.

In the lock nut 18, there are apertures 30, generally diametrically disposed. From the apertures 30 upright standards 31 project. The standards are readily removable, when desired. A gure 32 is disposed between said standards 31. The gure 32 has extensions or fins 33 which reach about the standards, thus providing a guide means for the ligure. The standards may be of glass, metal, or any other suitable material.

The body 34 of the gure 32 is hollow. It is of a material which is slightly heavier than water and which is not readily aiected by water. It has a small aperture 35 at its top. It also has an aperture 36 at its bottom, of a diameter which permits it to readily cover the air nozzle 24, when the figure 32 is at its lowermost position within the reservoir 10.

Through the upper aperture a link 37 extends. On the outside of the figure 32, at the end of link 37, is a float 38 which may be of any selected conguration. Within the figure 32 and at the other end of link 37, and of such configuration as will cause it to close the aperture 35 in the upper part of the body of the gure when thereagainst is a valve 39. As the oat 38 is lighter than water, the normal position of said float is such that the aperture 35 at the top of the figure 32 is closed when submerged.

In place of the standards 31, a transparent tube may be used, such tube being open at its top and bottom. When a tube is used, the gure 32 may have ns upon it whereby it may be caused to rotate or turn in its upward ilight and in its downward flight.

The operation of the device is as follows:

The reservoir 10 is lled with water. The reservoir cap is attached. The reservoir 10 is then inverted. Preferably the reservoir is disposed upon a stand 40 of the character illustrated in Figure 1, there being an opening or seat 4l in said baseto receive those portions of the device, i. e., the water tube 21 and air tubes 22 and 23 which extend downwardly from cover 12 when the jar 10 is inverted. The stand shown in Figure 1 has a seat 42 for cap 12. When concealing the several valves, said stand makes it appear that there are no apparatus or parts external to the jar. In an open portion 43 of the base, there should be placed a receptacle 44 or other means to receive the drip of water from the jar through the tube 21.

With the inversion of the jar 10, the figure 32 will drop over the air nozzle 24. If the air and water valves are properly disposed, water will flow slowly through tube 21 from the force of gravity and from capillary attraction. Such water will drop from the end of tube 2l into the receptacle 44 or other means.

The removal of water from the jar 10 in this manner will produce a slight vacuum in the jar. Because of the slight vacuum so produced, air will be forced through the tube 22 by way of arm 23. Such air as is forced into the reservoir 10 will be nely divided.

The bubbles of air as admitted will collect under the iigure 32, the top of which is closed by the valve39. The collection of air in the gure displaces water from therewithin, making the figure 32 lighter than the surrounding water. The gure will then rise. As it rises it will gain inertia.

When the iloat 38 reaches the top of the water in the jar 10 it will cease to rise, but the figure 32 as a result of its momentum will continue to rise, moving away from valve 39 within its body, and opening the aperture 35 in the top of the figure, releasing the air which has collected therein. The ligure 32 which is slightly heavier than water will then begin to sink and will continue to sink until it rests on the air nozzle 24. There the figure 32 will again be partly lled with air bubbles and will rise, the same cycle of operations just described being repeated so long as there is water in the reservoir 10 to be drawn through the tube 21.

Adjustment of the water and air valves described controls the speed with which water is removed rom the device and the air admitted thereto. This speed regulates the speed of operation of the gure 32. The Wick 27, as previously indicated, is a stabilizer. It prevents air from getting intothe reservoir through the tube 21 and thus makes the control by the several valves more complete than it otherwise would be.

Instead of a iigure 32, other objects may be used in the reservoir, as for example, a dollshaped device. The air bubbles may be used to operate a teeter-totter or a wheel .or other mechanical devices. The length of operation of the apparatus depends upon the capacity oi the reservoir and the speed with which the water is drawn therefrom.

To further aid in arousing curiosity, it is usual and customary to cover the jar 10 with a removable paper or other translucent material 50 leaving a longitudinal peep hole 51 therein. Through the peep slit 51 the ligure 32 is visible, but air bubbles are invisible.

As illustrated, thefigure is at the rear of the jar 10 so that magniiication of the ligure occurs from the rounded body of the reservoir and the water contents thereof. The figure thus magnifled appears much larger in proportion to the jar than it actually is.

Control or" the device may be had by either air valve or the water valve or both, as herein indicated. The removal of water may be controlled by the wick or by a wick and the valve. The water Withdrawal also may be controlled by a plain tube by making the diameter and length of the tube 21 to suit the pressure of the water, or by reducing the size of the opening at the bottom of the water tube 21 to suit such pressure. Such an arrangement would require a special size of tube for each size of reservoir because the water pressure would vary.

The wick and air valve in the illustrated form of the invention make such form adaptable to size of caps and identical threads so that a cap equipped with the illustrated apparatus may be used upon a pint jar, a quart jar, or a half gallon jar.

The air nozzle 24 hereinabove thoroughly described overcomes What is known as the skin on water and thus permits of the formation of minute air bubbles.

In Figure 4, a fragmentary detail, a oat 22h is illustrated at the top of the tube 22. Therebeneath is a valve 22e which is connected to ioat by a link 22d. When the iigure 32 is at its lowermost position, it presses upon a cross member 22e forming a part of the oat 22D to open valve 22e. Air is then admitted to the gure by way of arm 23 and tube 22 and part valve seat 22j. As soon as the gure 32 rises, the oat 22h rises, closing the valve 22C. No air will then be admitted to the reservoir during the time that the figure 32 is away from the ioat 22h.

The operation of either apparatus is dependent upon gravity, capillary attraction, the creation of a partial vacuum in the container, atmospheric pressure, control of water and air, notation, inertia, and momentum. An adjustment of the forces capable of adjustment and their accurate control makes possible the successful employment of the present apparatus.

The present devices have the advantage of being usable for operation upon water, which is always at hand, and a further advantage of possessing no moving parts to wear to the point of producing imperfect operation or necessity for replacement. The controls necessary, the air and water valves, are operable from the outside of the device. No other device of this character has such simple control means, or control means operable from the outside of the container or reservoir.

The unitary construction of the apparatus makes the device adaptable to any style of jar or reservoir with a sealed cap. It is only necessary to provide a suitable hole in the cap to receive said unit.

In the forms of the invention illustrated, which are but two of the many forms the invention may take, the float is readily detached, so that a diierent oat may be substituted therefor. Likewise, the valves for the air and water may have their specications changed to provide for other results.

While the embodiment of the invention is that of a novelty, it is quite manifest that the energy produced in the manner described could be employed to produce other movements, i. e., rotary and reciprocating, and that such energy so produced may be used to operate numerous devices.

The applicant is aware that the invention may be embodied in many other speciiic forms without departing from the spirit and essential attributes thereof, and the applicant therefore desires the present embodiment to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being had to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.

' I claim:

1. In a novelty, the combination of a reservoir sealed against air above the level of the liquid therein, and a valve having as a part thereof a tube and wick disposed at substantially the lowest plane of said reservoir and possessing capillary attraction for the liquid in said reservoir to remove liquid from said reservoir whereby to create a vacuum above the level of liquid therein.

2. In a novelty, a reservoir sealed against the admission of air above the level of liquid therein, and a closure therefor, said closure having a tube extending therethrough discharging below the level of liquid in said reservoir to allow the escape of liquid from said reservoir to create a vacuum above the level of the liquid therein, a valve in said tube, a second tube extending through said closure and having an air passage opening into the body of the liquid in said reservoir to dissipate the vacuum thereabove, and means for controlling the flow of air through said air passage.

3. A novelty comprising a reservoir sealed against the admission of air above the level of liquid therein, a displaceable object within said reservoir, and a wick leading from said reservoir to the open atmosphere for withdrawing liquid from said reservoir to create a vacuum above the level of the liquid in said reservoir, and other means to admit air from the open atmosphere to said reservoir through the body of such liquid to dissipate such vacuum and to cause said object in said reservoir to be moved.

4. A novelty comprising a reservoir for water, an air conduit thereinto, a water conduit therefrom, means in said water conduit possessing capillary attraction for the water in said reservoir to withdraw the water from said reservoir to create a vacuum therein, a valve in said air conduit controlling the admission of air thereto after a vacuum has been formed therein, and a gure rising and falling in said reservoir and adapted tc open said valve when falling.

5. In a device for the discharge of a gas into a liquid, a conduit extending into the liquid below the level thereof and having a vent therein, the vent being of minute breadth and oi longitudinal extent many times its breadth, the longitudinal extent of said vent being in a plane angular to the horizontal.

6. In a device for the discharge of gas into a liquid, a conduit extending into the liquid and terminating beneath the upper level thereof and having a vent therein in the form of a narrow slit of minute breadth, the length of the slit being many times its breadth and one end thereof Vbeing higher than the other.

7. A reservoir for liquid and having openings normally beneath the level of liquid in said reservoir, there being a wick through one of said openings to draw liquid from said reservoir, the other of said openings normally being sealed by the liquid in said reservoir, withdrawal of liquid from said reservoir by said wick causing the liquid seal of the other opening to be broken whereby air is admitted to said reservoir, and means in the path of the air so admitted into said reservoir to be actuated thereby.

8. A liquid reservoir sealed against 'the admission of air .above the level of the liquid therein and having openings thereinto below the normal liquid level thereof, means to draw liquid from said reservoir through one of said openings, rate of flow control means in connection with the opening containing said liquid withdrawal means, the other of said openings being normally sealed by the liquid in said reservoir thereabove and admitting air into said reservoir through such liquid when such seal is broken, rate of flow control means in connection with said air inlet opening, both of said rate of flow control means being between said openings and unenclosed atmosphere, withdrawal of liquid from said reservoir by said withdrawal means lessening the pressure in said reservoir and causing the normal pressure of th-e unenclosed atmosphere without said reservoir to break the seal to allow air to be forced into said reservoir, and means in said reservoir in the path of the admitted air to be actuated thereby.

9. A jar for liquid and having an opening, a closure member for said opening, said closure member having passages therethrough, one of said passages having a discharge port, both of said passages opening to the unconned atmosphere, one of said passages having means for drawing liquid therethrough to create a vacuum in said jar, the other of said passages being an air passage and being sealed by the liquid in said reservoir, and means comprising a check valve in said air passage for regulating the admission of air to said reservoir by said air passage.

10. In an aquatic toy, a reservoir having walls for containing liquid and provided with an opening, a closure device for said opening and having therein a member terminating in a restricted aperture arranged in a position to admit air to the bottom of said reservoir, a float member of a cross section materially less than the cross section between the walls of saidreservoir and having track engaging parts and a track arranged to cooperate with said parts to retain the float slidably in the path of air issuing from said aperture and away from the walls of said reservoir.

1l. In an aquatic toy, a reservoir having walls for containing liquid and provided with an opening, a closure device for said opening comprising a support for said reservoir, a member in said closure device and having therein a restricted aperture arranged in a position to admit air to the bottom of said reservoir, a float member of a cross section materially less than the cross section between the walls of said reservoir and adapted to be actuated by the air admitted through said aperture when in the path of such air, said float member having track engaging parts, and a track arranged to cooperate with said track engaging parts to retain the iioat slidably in the path of air issuing from said aperture and away from the walls of said reservoir and comprising parallel members spaced apart a distance greater than the cross section of the body of said oat member and disposed in the member upon the closure device at opposite sides of said aperture, said track member having means oiset from the path of travel of said iioat member therealong for maintaining the parallelism of said track members.

12. In an aquatic toy, a reservoir having walls for containing liquid and vhaving an opening therein, a closure device for said opening and having an aperture therethrough, a means for supporting a track on said closure device, oblique restricted slit means over said aperture for causing air to be admitted to said reservoir in small bubbles which iioat upwardly through the liquid therein, a Iioat member of cross section materially less than the cross section between the walls of said reservoir and dispos-ed in the liquid in said reservoir, and a track upon the track supporting means for maintaining said float member away from the walls of said reservoir and in the path of the air bubbles.

13. In an aquatic toy, a reservoir having upright walls for containing a liquid, a closure f device for said reservoir and having an aperture therein, track supporting means disposed in the aperture in said closure member and having an orice of relatively small dimensions for causing air to be admitted to said reservoir adjacent to the bottom of said reservoir, a member of horizontal section materially less than a horizontal section between said walls and adapted to be buoyed upwardly through the liquid by the air admitted to said reservoir, and a track upon said supporting means along which said iloat member may travel, said track extending vertically in said reservoir for maintaining said float member over said orifice and away from contact with the walls of said reservoir.

HARRY J. BARKER.

lll)

its 

